Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent meets with President Maduro of Venezuela amid rising tensions over the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute. The discussions aim to de-escalate tensions sparked by a Venezuelan naval incursion into Guyanese waters. Previous diplomatic efforts resulted in the Argyle Declaration, which mandated peaceful resolution. Observers await the outcome of Gonsalves’ mediation efforts.
The government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has confirmed that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves traveled to Venezuela to engage with President Nicolás Maduro due to increased tensions between Venezuela and Guyana regarding a border dispute. Dr. Gonsalves, an interlocutor under the Argyle Declaration, departed for Venezuela on Monday evening for discussions scheduled today.
Prior to his departure, Dr. Gonsalves communicated with Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, urging both nations to exercise restraint and pursue diplomatic dialogue. He warned that any further escalation could lead to serious economic and social repercussions and destabilize the wider Latin American and Caribbean region, possibly leading to a humanitarian crisis.
This diplomatic effort follows a recent incident involving a Venezuelan naval vessel encroaching on Guyanese waters, where crew members questioned oil exploration ship captains, erroneously claiming the area belonged to Venezuela. In retaliation, Guyana increased aerial and maritime surveillance while alerting the international community of what it termed an act of aggression, garnering condemnation from the United States, United Kingdom, France, CARICOM, the Commonwealth, and the Organization of American States (OAS).
Dr. Gonsalves reaffirmed that the oil vessels were operating within Guyanese territory and acknowledged that tensions may continue, even after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivers its ruling on the case, which Guyana has brought to validate the 1899 arbitral award defining its borders.
The tensions had briefly subsided following a meeting between Presidents Ali and Maduro in December 2023, facilitated by Dr. Gonsalves, resulting in the signing of the Argyle Declaration. This agreement committed both parties to renounce the use of force and resolve their differences peacefully. Concurrently, the ICJ issued provisional measures preventing Venezuela from altering the status quo in the contested Essequibo region.
However, Guyana later accused Venezuela of breaching both the ICJ order and the Argyle Declaration by persisting in its claims over Essequibo, planning local elections in the territory, and deploying naval forces into Guyanese waters. Consequently, President Ali has dismissed the possibility of further direct meetings with Maduro due to these provocations. As Dr. Gonsalves meets with Maduro in Caracas, regional leaders are attentively observing whether this diplomatic initiative can alleviate tensions and guide both nations toward a peaceful resolution.
In summary, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is engaging with President Nicolás Maduro to address escalating tensions between Venezuela and Guyana concerning a border dispute. The situation emerged after Venezuela’s naval incursion into Guyanese waters, provoking international condemnation. Both nations previously agreed to the Argyle Declaration to seek peaceful resolutions, yet recent violations have heightened tensions once again. Dr. Gonsalves’ efforts could play a crucial role in defusing this conflict.
Original Source: www.caribbeannationalweekly.com
